U.S. patent number 10,863,258 [Application Number 16/542,541] was granted by the patent office on 2020-12-08 for automatic identification of a wireless microphone, a body-pack transmitter or a body-pack receiver.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG. The grantee listed for this patent is Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Stefan Thien, Kai Tossing.
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United States Patent |
10,863,258 |
Thien , et al. |
December 8, 2020 |
Automatic identification of a wireless microphone, a body-pack
transmitter or a body-pack receiver
Abstract
For mobile devices used in a wireless audio transmission system,
for example for stage technology, like wireless microphones,
body-pack transmitters with an audio input, and body-pack receivers
with an audio output, electronic displays are known, on which a
respective radio frequency or radio channel in use or other
alphanumeric information is displayed. This information can be
input at the transmitting end, for example, at a central location
like a mixing desk. The displays, however, only function while the
mobile devices are switched on so that it is not possible to see
the association(s) of the mobile device(s) in their switched-off
state. For improved identification of wireless microphones,
body-pack transmitters, or body-pack receivers in which an
automatic alphanumeric identification of the transmission channel
in use is displayed in the switched-on state, according to the
invention the display of the identification is retained even after
the microphone, body-pack transmitter or body-pack receiver is
switched off. In this way, mobile devices can be associated with a
radio transmission path, an artist or a stage position even in the
switched-off state.
Inventors: |
Thien; Stefan (Hannover,
DE), Tossing; Kai (Hannover, DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG |
Wedemark |
N/A |
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sennheiser electronic GmbH &
Co. KG (Wedemark, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005233522 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/542,541 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2019 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200068282 A1 |
Feb 27, 2020 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R
3/00 (20130101); H04R 1/08 (20130101); H04R
2420/07 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04R
1/08 (20060101); H04R 3/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Truong; Kenny H
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Haug Partners LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A wireless microphone or body-pack transmitter having an audio
input, wherein the microphone or body-pack transmitter comprises a
transmitter and a receiver for exchanging data with a base station,
and wherein the microphone or body-pack transmitter, while being
switched on, is configured to display an alphanumeric
identification of a radio transmission channel utilized for
exchanging data with the base station, wherein the alphanumeric
identification comprises a name or an IP address that was entered
at the base station or at a device connected to the base station,
and wherein the alphanumeric identification was transmitted to the
switched-on microphone or body-pack transmitter, and wherein the
alphanumeric identification is configured to remain displayed on
the microphone or body-pack transmitter when the microphone or
body-pack transmitter is switched off.
2. The microphone or body-pack transmitter as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the microphone or body-pack transmitter comprises an
electronic display for displaying the alphanumeric
identification.
3. The microphone or body-pack transmitter as set forth in claim 2,
wherein, after being switched off, the electronic display is
configured to retain and continue to display a last displayed
alphanumeric identification without power supply.
4. The microphone or body-pack transmitter as set forth in claim 2,
wherein the electronic display has a dedicated power supply
configured to provide the electronic display with sufficient power
for displaying the alphanumeric identification for at least a
plurality of hours.
5. The microphone or body-pack transmitter as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the microphone or body-pack transmitter is connected to the
base station via a wireless transmission channel in a duplex
connection.
6. The microphone or body-pack transmitter as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the microphone or body-pack transmitter is connected to the
base station by way of a respective radio transmission channel for
each direction of data exchange and the alphanumeric identification
relates to one of the two radio transmission channels.
7. The microphone or body-pack transmitter as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the transmission is a wireless transmission, and wherein
the alphanumeric identification further comprises a radio frequency
or a radio channel of the wireless transmission.
8. The microphone or body-pack transmitter as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the alphanumeric identification is stored at the base
station after the transmission and can be re-transmitted when the
microphone or body-pack transmitter is switched on again.
9. An audio transmission system comprising two or more mobile
devices and at least one base station, wherein the mobile devices
are wireless microphones or body-pack transmitters as set forth in
claim 1 or wireless receivers, wherein the wireless receivers are
configured to receive data from the at least one base station via
at least one wireless transmission channel, and wherein the
wireless receivers each comprise a display for displaying an
alphanumeric identification of the transmission channel in use,
wherein the alphanumeric identification comprises a name or an IP
address and was entered at the at least one base station or at a
device connected to the at least one base station and was
transmitted to the wireless receiver, wherein the alphanumeric
identification is displayed at the wireless receiver while switched
on, and wherein the display of the alphanumeric identification is
retained when the wireless receiver is switched off.
10. A method for automatic identification of a wireless microphone,
body-pack transmitter or body-pack receiver by means of a display
displaying identification information, comprising: connecting the
microphone, body-pack transmitter or body-pack receiver via a radio
connection to a base station; receiving, via the radio connection,
the identification information, wherein the identification
information was previously input at the base station or a device
connected to the base station and that is specific to the
respective microphone, body-pack transmitter or body-pack receiver,
wherein the identification information comprises a name or an IP
address; displaying the identification information on the display,
the display being an electronic display of the microphone,
body-pack transmitter or body-pack receiver, while being switched
on, wherein the displayed identification information is visibly
retained on the display even when the microphone, body-pack
transmitter or body-pack receiver is switched off.
11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the identification
information, after having been input at the base station, is stored
in a memory and retrieved from the memory prior to
transmission.
12. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the identification
information displayed after switching off is a last identification
information that was displayed before switching off.
13. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the identification
information displayed at the microphone, body-pack transmitter or
body-pack receiver when switched on comprises only a part of the
transmitted identification information, and wherein the
identification information displayed after switching off comprises
at least a pre-configured other part of the transmitted
identification information.
14. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the microphone,
body-pack transmitter or body-pack receiver is connected to the
base station via a radio transmission channel in a duplex
connection.
15. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the microphone,
body-pack transmitter or body-pack receiver is connected to the
base station via a respective radio transmission channel for each
direction, and wherein the identification information relates to
one of the two transmission channels.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns an automatic identification of a wireless
microphone, a body-pack transmitter having an audio input or a
body-pack receiver for audio playback by way of an earphone, as
well as a corresponding method.
BACKGROUND
Wireless audio transmission systems for stage equipment usually
include a plurality of mobile devices like wireless microphones,
body-pack transmitters with an audio input for microphones or
guitar pickups as well as body-pack receivers with audio output,
for example for in-ear monitors. In that respect the various mobile
devices use different radio channels or radio frequencies.
Normally the wireless microphones, body-pack transmitters and
body-pack receivers which are being used at the same time are
fixedly associated with different artists, instruments or stage
positions and are correspondingly individually programmed. That
includes for example so-called pairing with a fixed transmitter or
receiver at a counterpart or base station. That association which
often requires frequency planning is also important for connection
to a mixing desk and is set up and tested in a sound check which is
usually carried out several hours before a stage appearance. As the
wireless microphones, body-pack transmitters and body-pack
receivers which are being used at the same time generally
respectively look alike they can contain electronic displays (for
example LCD, LED) on which the respective radio frequency or radio
channel being used or other alphanumeric information is displayed
(for example the name of the artist with which the device is
associated, or a position like for example "Background 1",
"Background 2" and so forth). In that way the pre-programmed mobile
devices can be more easily associated with the corresponding artist
or instrument upon appearing.
In that respect however there is the problem that the displays only
function, and thus the association can only be recognized, when the
mobile devices are switched on. Frequently however, between the
sound check and the appearance, the mobile devices are frequently
switched off and gathered up, for example for secure safekeeping or
for charging up the batteries. Admittedly each mobile device
internally stores the displayed information, but that cannot be
seen on the mobile device when it is switched off. When a given
mobile device is required under some circumstances all mobile
devices have to be switched on in order to obtain the association
information and to find the mobile device that is being sought. In
practice therefore the mobile devices are often identified by
hand-written stickers, which is labor-intensive and prone to error.
For example stickers can come loose or be swapped over or the
writing can be illegible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic
identification for a mobile audio device like a wireless
microphone, a body-pack transmitter with audio input or a body-pack
receiver for an earphone.
The invention affords an automated way of attaining the
above-specified object.
According to the invention a mobile audio device has a display
which even when the power supply is switched off continues to
display the last-displayed information at least for some hours.
That information includes alphanumeric identification information,
for example an identification of the transmission channel being
used, by a transmission frequency, a channel number or a text. That
ensures, even after the microphone, body-pack transmitter or
body-pack receiver is switched off, for example even when changing
the battery or battery pack, that the association information
remains readable. In addition a specific mobile device which is
being sought can be found more easily and more quickly among a
number of switched-off mobile devices because the mobile devices do
not first have to be all individually switched on in order to be
able to read the display.
A wireless microphone according to the invention or a body-pack
transmitter according to the invention with an audio output is
disclosed. A wireless receiver according to the invention is also
disclosed. Further advantageous embodiments are described.
Embodiments further concern an audio transmission system comprising
a plurality of mobile devices according to the invention and a
corresponding method for automatic identification of a wireless
microphone, body-pack transmitter or body-pack receiver by means of
a display.
According to an aspect the identification of the transmission
channel being used can also be represented by a graphic symbol,
like for example a logo. That can be transmitted to the wireless
microphone, the body-pack transmitter or body-pack receiver and
displayed there on a display which is so designed that the display
remains visible even after the device is switched off.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further details and advantageous embodiments are shown in the
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows an audio transmission system with three wireless
microphone transmission paths,
FIG. 2 shows an audio transmission system with one wireless
microphone path, a body-pack receiver for an in-ear monitor and a
body-pack transmitter for a guitar pickup,
FIG. 3 shows a wireless microphone according to the invention with
an alphanumeric or graphical display in the switched-on and
switched-off state, and
FIG. 4 shows a body-pack transmitter according to the invention
with an alphanumeric display in the switched-on and switched-off
state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an audio transmission system 100 having three wireless
microphone transmission paths. The wireless microphones 101, 102,
103 are respectively connected to their respective counterpart or
base station 131, 132, 133 by way of a radio connection 121, 122,
123, the radio connections using different frequencies or channels.
The base stations 131-133 are by way of example connected to a
common mixing desk 140. At the mixing desk, the association of its
input channels with the microphones 101-103 must be known or
recognizable. Each microphone has a display 111-113 for displaying
at least one individual item of identification information for the
transmission path 121-123, for example the respective radio channel
Ch. 1, Ch. 2, Ch. 3. As in this example the respectively associated
base station 131-133 also has a display on which the respective
radio channel is displayed and each of the base stations, by virtue
of a cable connection, can be easily associated with an input
channel of the mixing desk 140, each microphone can thus also be
easily associated with an input channel on the mixing desk 140.
When setting up or initializing the audio transmission system 100
inter alia the base stations 131-133 are associated with the input
channel on the mixing desk, the wireless microphones are associated
with the base stations (pairing) and the transmission paths have
their radio frequencies allotted to them. That association can be
different for each system setup, even if the same devices are used,
because for example the reception conditions, the allowed and the
free radio frequencies or radio channels can respectively differ.
After system setup and initialization each wireless microphone has
its individual identification information. The identification
information ultimately stems from the respective base station or
the mixing desk. In that situation the information can be
transmitted from the base station to the wireless microphone so
that the latter displays the information. For that purpose it is
possible to use the above-mentioned radio path 121-123 or another
connection, for example an infra-red (IR) or similar connection
which is only used for the pairing operation. The information can
also serve for configuration of the transmitter contained in the
wireless microphone and which makes use of the radio path 121-123
and can also be used for the display on the display 111-113.
According to the invention the display 111-113 displays the
identification information not just in the switched-on state but
the display is maintained even when the wireless microphone is
switched off.
As an alternative to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 with separate
base stations it is also possible for two or more or all wireless
microphones 101-103 to communicate with a single base station by
way of radio connections. In that case the wireless microphones can
also use the same frequencies or channels, for example by way of
time multiplex.
FIG. 2 shows a similar audio transmission system 100a which however
includes only one wireless microphone 101 and a body-pack receiver
104 for an in-ear monitor 104a and a body-pack transmitter 105 for
an instrument pickup (for example a guitar pickup) 105a. The
body-pack receiver 104 and the body-pack transmitter 105 are also
referred to as the "body-pack". Unlike the audio transmission
system 100 in FIG. 1 here radio paths 121, 141, 151 are used for
audio data transmission not only from the mobile devices 101, 105
to the respective base station 131, 135 which can possibly pass the
audio data on to the mixing desk 140, but in the case of the
body-pack receiver they are also used for audio data transmission
from a base station 134 to the associated mobile device 104. The
base station 134 can receive the audio data from the mixing desk
140. Here too the mobile devices 101, 104, 105 have displays 111,
114, 115 on which individual identification for the respective
radio connection is displayed, more specifically both when the
mobile device is switched on and also when it is switched off. When
the mobile device is switched on the display can be updated while
when the mobile device is switched off the information last
displayed before it was switched off remains visible in the display
111, 114, 115. Alternatively, after the device is switched off,
other pre-configured information can also be displayed in the
display 111, 114, 115.
Instead of the channel numbers illustrated by way of example in
FIGS. 1 and 2 the individual identification information can also
include radio frequencies or other individual alphanumeric text or
a graphic representation like a symbol, an icon, a photograph and
so forth. The individual alphanumeric text or the graphic can be
input directly at the mobile device, at the respective base station
or at the mixing desk or can be retrieved from a memory. In an
embodiment the base stations or the mixing desk have a comparison
unit which receives the individual alphanumeric texts or graphics,
compares them together and displays or prevents double allocation
so that a unique association is possible. FIGS. 1 and 2 also show
by way of example that in many cases substantially more mobile
devices are connected, in which case however the principle
described hereinbefore is used. Particularly in the case of
extensive audio transmission systems with numerous mobile devices
it is advantageous that the individual mobile devices according to
the invention can be distinguished from each other even in the
state of being switched off.
FIG. 3 shows a wireless microphone 101 having a display 111 for
alphanumeric or graphical display, wherein the display in the
display device is set to a current configuration in the switched-on
state and is retained in the switched-off state. In this example
individual identification information which can be input at the
base station or a central location, for example at a mixing desk,
can be transmitted to the microphone by way of a wireless duplex
connection. The display in the display 111 includes that individual
identification information, for example a name 301 of a singer with
whom the microphone is associated, or a graphic symbol 301a which
for example represents a role in a performance. In addition the
display contains a symbol 302 in respect of the quality of the
wireless connection to the base station (for example receiving
field strength of the duplex connection) and a symbol 303 for the
battery charge state. At least the individual identification
information 301, 301a remains visible as identification in the
display when the microphone is switched off. Depending on the
respective design and display technology the entire display
continues to be maintained after the microphone is switched
off.
In an embodiment the electronic display retains the last-displayed
identification without a power feed after the device is switched
off and continues to display it. In that case the display of the
mobile device can be in the form of so-called electronic paper
(e-paper, e-ink), that is to say a passive display based on the
principle of electrophoresis. In that case microcells which contain
positively and negatively charged light and dark particles
respectively serve as pixels of the display. When the display is
switched on the microcells are exposed to an electric field, in
which case depending on the polarity of the field the light or the
dark particles move to the visible side of the microcell and cause
the pixel to appear either as light or dark. Each pixel of the
display can be made separately light or dark by individual
actuation of the electric field for each microcell. If the mobile
device and therewith the display are switched off the particles
remain at their position so that the last-displayed information
continues to be displayed for a very long time in the display. With
the currently known electronic paper the display can continue to be
displayed for several days.
In another embodiment the electronic display has a dedicated power
supply which can adequately supply the display with power for at
least several hours in order to display the identification. In that
case the display can be for example in the form of a power-saving
liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, which has a dedicated
power supply like for example a capacitor, with which the displayed
information is maintained for at least several hours.
In an embodiment the invention concerns a mobile wireless
transmitter (body-pack transmitter) within an audio transmission
system, wherein the transmitter has a display for representing an
automatic alphanumeric identification of the wireless connection
being used, and wherein the identification is displayed at the
switched-on transmitter and wherein the display of the
identification continues to remain visible even when the
transmitter is switched off. Such a body-pack transmitter is shown
in FIG. 4 (without the microphone or instrument pickup to be
connected thereto). On the left-hand side an illuminated status LED
421 on the body-pack transmitter 400 shows that the body-pack
transmitter is switched on. The display 410 displays current
alphanumeric text, in this case the name, input at the base
station, of the artist with whom the body-pack transmitter is
associated. Upon a change in the information, for example
re-programming or re-configuring of the audio transmission system,
the displayed alphanumeric text can also change. When the body-pack
transmitter is switched off, as indicated at the right by a
switched-off status LED 422, the alphanumeric text still remains
readable in the display 410. The alphanumeric text can also be for
example a number, a letter or a symbol for identifying the mobile
body-pack transmitter or the wireless connection associated
therewith.
In another embodiment the invention concerns a mobile wireless
receiver (body-pack receiver) within an audio transmission system,
wherein the receiver has a display for representing an automatic
alphanumeric identification of the wireless connection in use. The
identification is displayed at the switched-on receiver and the
display of the identification is maintained visible even after the
receiver is switched off. Externally such a body-pack receiver can
look for example like the body-pack transmitter shown in FIG. 4 or
very similar.
In similar embodiments the identification includes a graphic symbol
which is displayed on a display device. The identification can also
include a color if the display is a colored display and preferably
retains the displayed color even after the body-pack transmitter or
the receiver is switched off. The symbol and/or the color can be
input or selected at a base station connected to the mobile device
(body-pack transmitter or receiver). The mobile device can have a
reception interface in order thereby to receive data for
determining a radio transmission channel used by the mobile device
and to correspondingly set its radio interface. In addition the
reception interface can receive the identification data for the
respective mobile device, which are then displayed as an
alphanumeric or graphic identification. In addition the reception
interface can also receive further data or use only a part of the
transmitted identification data for display purposes. In particular
it can be the case that the identification information displayed at
the switched-on microphone, body-pack transmitter or body-pack
receiver involves only a part of the transmitted identification
information while the identification information displayed after
the mobile device is switched off in accordance with a
pre-configuration includes at least another part of the transmitted
identification data. In an embodiment the reception interface
wirelessly receives the data from the same base station to which
the mobile device (in the case of the body-pack transmitter) sends
audio data or from which it receives audio data (in the case of the
body-pack receiver). In another variant however it is also possible
for the reception interface to receive the data from another base
station wirelessly or in contact-connected relationship, for
example a central configuration unit for a wireless audio
transmission system.
In a further embodiment the invention concerns an audio
transmission system having a plurality of wireless mobile
transmitters and/or receivers, wherein the transmitters and/or
receivers each have a respective display for representing an
automatic alphanumeric or graphic identification of the respective
wireless connection in use. In that case the identification is
displayed at the switched-on transmitter and/or receiver and the
display of the identification remains visible even when the
transmitter and/or receiver is switched off.
In a further embodiment the invention concerns a method of
automatic identification of a wireless microphone, body-pack
transmitter or body-pack receiver by means of an automatic display,
wherein the display displays an item of identification information
and wherein the displayed identification information is maintained
visible on the display even when the microphone, body-pack
transmitter or body-pack receiver is switched off. In that way even
the switched-off microphone or the switched-off body-pack
transmitter or body-pack receiver can be associated without first
having to be switched on.
The invention is advantageous for stage hands, for example stage
technicians and artists, but also renters and users of wireless
audio transmission systems.
The displayed information can for example also include
device-specific values for management and identification of the
device like the current or last IP address of the device, the
current firmware version or the network host name. In this way the
invention can be advantageously used in particular also for system
integrators or IT integrators.
* * * * *